Key type can opener and tear strip extractor



Aug. 25, 1953 J. LYLE KEY TYPEIVCAN OPENER AND TEAR STRIP EXTRACTOR Filed Aug. 9', 1951 w T m V m .Zewz's JLyZZ;

ATTCI RN EYE Patented Aug. 25, 1953 KEY TYPE CAN OPENER AND TEAR STRIP EXTRACTOB.

Lewis J. Lyle, Newton, Miss.

Application August 9, 1951. Serial No. 241,054

1 This invention relates to can openers of the type used for rolling strips of material defined by scoring from surfaces of cans and the like, and in particular a key having a handle and a holder with a guard extended from one end slidably and rotatably mounted on the handle and positioned to retain a coil of material rolled from a can in position as the can is being opened. The purpose of this invention is to provide means mounted to coact with a key type can opener for retaining the rolled material in an evenly formed roll on the key whereby the rolled material is retained in position, thereby facilitating completely opening the can.

With the conventional type of key can opener a key with a slot therein is placed over a tab extended from the strip of material defined by scored lines on the surface of a can and as the key is turned the strip of material is rolled thereon. In rolling the strip of material on the key the key shifts and the material being rolled thereon bulges at one side whereby the pressure or force on the material from the side of the can becomes uneven and the strip tears. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a key can opener having an extended stem with a guard positioned to retain the rolled material on the key so that the material is rolled into a uniform coil and the coil remains evenly positioned on the key until the can is completely 9 opened.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a can opener of the key type in which means is provided for retaining a strip of material rolled from the wall of a can uniformly positioned thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the key type wherein a strip of material separated from the wall of a can is rolled upon the key in which means is provided for extracting the roll of material from the slot of the key.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the key type wherein a strip of material from the side of the can is rolled upon a key which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a key formed with a pair of prongs having a slot extended longitudinally between the prongs and having an extended stem with a handle on the outer end thereof slidably and rotatably mounted in a holder and having a U-shaped guard carried by the lower end of the holder and positioned to 1 Claim. (01. 220-52) extend on both sides of the roll of material rolled from the wall of a can on the key.

Other features and advantages of the invention will, appear fromthe following description taken in connection with the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the improved key type can opener.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the key of the can opener withdrawn and also showing the upper part of the handle broken away.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view .of the improved key type can opener with the parts in the position as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the guide flange for urging the edges of the strip of material being rolled upon the key into position in a common plane.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the material of the wall of a can, illustrated in dot and dash lines, being rolled upon the key. v

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved key type can opener of this invention includes a key formed with prongs l0 and II, carried on the extended end of a stem I 2 and having a slot I3 positioned between the prongs for receiving the end of a strip of material or tab extended from one side of a can. The stem I2, having a handle IE on the upper end, extends through a holder I4 and a U-shaped guard 16 extends from the lower end of the holder with a flange I? on the upper section l8 of the guard providing a guide positioned to travel on the outer surface of a can 19, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 5.

The holder I4 is provided with a continuous sleeve section 2! in which the stem I2 is slidably and rotatably mounted and below the sleeve section 2| the holder is provided with a slot 22. The lower end of the stem I2 is provided with a shoulder 23 and from the shoulder 23 the stem is enlarged to provide the prongs l0 and II.

The upper part of the stem is also provided with an enlarged section 24 which engages the upper end of the sleeve portion 2| when the key is extended downwardly as shown in Fig. 1, and when the key is withdrawn, to the position shown in Fig. 2, the shoulder 23 engages a lower end of the sleeve 2| thereby providing a stop.

The lower end 25, of the guard I6, is provided with a notch 26 that receives the lower tip of the prong H, with the key as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the lower end of the prong H is also positioned in the recess 26 with 3 the position of the prongs reversed whereby in opening a can wherein the key is rotated the arcuate surfaces at the lower ends of the prongs l9 and l l are held in the recess 26 so that the end 25 of the guard provides supporting means for the lower end of the key.

With the parts arranged in this manner the key is drawn to the position shown in Fig. 2 and after the can opener is positioned on a can the key is moved downwardly by the handle I5 whereby the slot [3 slides over the tab or end of the strip and with the key in position the handle is turned to rotate the key wherein a strip of material is removed from the side of "a,

can and this strip of material forms a roll on the key.

The guard it holds the edges of the material of the roll whereby a uniform roll is produced.

After the roll of material is formed on the key the key is withdrawn by the handle I5 and the roll of material is forced from the key.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A key can opener, comprising a stem, a pair of spaced parallel prongs extending from an end of said stem and defining therebetween a slot for receiving the end of a striptherein, an enlarged section extending from the other end of said stem, a handle extending from said enlarged section, a holder slidably engaging said stem, a U-shaped guard extending from an end of said holder, a flange projecting from said holder and providing a guide member, a sleeve section arranged contiguous to said holder and secured thereto, said sleeve section being engaged by said enlarged section when the key is in extended position, a shoulder arranged on said stem contiguous to said prongs for engaging said sleeve section when the key is in retracted position, said sleeve section being slidable on said stem between said enlarged portion and said shoulder a distanee substantially equal to the length of the slot, the free end of said guard being provided with a notch, the free ends of said prongs being shaped arcuately for selectively engaging said notch, said holder rotatab-ly engaging said stem, 'sai'd guard lying in the same plane as said stem.

LEWIS J. LYLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 951,619 Rawson Mar. 8, 1910 1,461,151 Keeler July 10, 1923 1,911,613 Epstein May 30, 1933 2,140,151 Dazey Dec. 13, 1938 2,588,244 Johans'on Mar. 4, 1952 

